The heavy metal zinc (Zn) is known to be transmitted in the food chain; however, the effect of Zn stress on beans and herbivorous insects is largely unclear. This study aimed to investigate the resistance of broad bean plants to Zn stress and the consequent changes in their physiological and biochemical metabolism by simulating heavy metal pollution in soil. Simultaneously, the effects of aphid progeny treated with different Zn concentrations on the expression of carbohydrate and related genes were analyzed. The results showed that Zn had no effect on the germination rate of broad beans, but other effects mainly manifested as follows. (1) Chlorophyll content decreased. (2) The total soluble sugar and Zn content in stems and leaves increased with increasing Zn content. (3) The proline content first increased and then decreased with increasing Zn content. (4) The height of the seedlings indicates that low concentrations promote growth and high concentrations inhibit growth. In addition, only the first-generation fecundity decreased significantly when aphids fed on heavy metal broad beans. Continuous high Zn levels increase the trehalose content of aphid F1 and F2, while F3 decreases. These results can not only provide a theoretical basis for exploring the impact of soil heavy metal pollution on ecosystems but also preliminarily evaluate the possibility of broad beans as a means of pollution remediation.

Cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (CYP), crucial detoxification enzymes in insects, are involved in the metabolism of endogenous substances as well as the activation and degradation of exogenous compounds. In this study, T. castaneum was utilized to investigate the roles of TcCYP6K1 and TcCYP9F2 genes influencing in the trehalose metabolism pathway under high-CO₂ stress. By predicting the functional sequences of TcCYP6K1 and TcCYP9F2 genes and analyzing their spatiotemporal expression patterns, it was discovered that both genes belong to the CYP3 group and exhibit high expression levels during the larval stage, decreasing during the pupal stage, while showing high expression in the fatty body, intestine, and malpighian tubules. Furthermore, following the knockdown of TcCYP6K1 and TcCYP9F2 genes in combination with treating larvae with 75% CO₂, it was observed that larval mortality increased, and glycogen content significantly decreased, while trehalose content increased significantly. Additionally, membrane-bound trehalase enzyme activity declined, TPS gene expression was significantly upregulated, GS gene expression was significantly downregulated, and ATP content showed a marked decrease. In conclusion, CYP genes are critical responsive genes of T. castaneum to high CO₂ levels, potentially impacting the insect’s resistance to carbon dioxide through their involvement in the synthesis or breakdown of the carbohydrate metabolism pathway. These findings could serve as a theoretical basis for the utilization of novel pesticides in low-oxygen grain storage techniques and offer new insights for environmentally friendly pest control strategies in grain storage.

Physalis floridana Rydb., a member of the Solanaceae family, is renowned for its diverse secondary metabolites, including physalins and withanolides. The 28-spotted ladybird beetle (Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata) is a notorious pest severely damaging Solanaceous crops. This study demonstrates that P. floridana Rydb. significantly impacts on the development and reproductive suppression of H. vigintioctopunctata. A comparative transcriptome analysis was performed by feeding H. vigintioctopunctata larvae on P. floridana Rydb., Solanum nigrum L., Solanum tuberosum L., and Solanum lycopersicum L. The results reveal that larvae fed on P. floridana Rydb. exhibit numerous differentially expressed genes, which are notably enriched in pathways related to energy metabolism, immunity, and detoxification. These functions and pathways are less enriched in larvae fed by other hosts. Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) indicates that feeding on P. floridana Rydb. influences the expression of specific genes involved in the Toll and IMD signaling pathways, impacting the immune system of H. vigintioctopunctata larvae. This study provides transcriptomic insights into larval responses to different diets and suggests that the effect of P. floridana Rydb. on the immune system of H. vigintioctopunctata is a key defense mechanism against herbivores.